Vacuum cleaner



April 9, 1929. Y H. J. sMlDLl-:Y 1,708,194

l VACUUM CLEANER Filed April l5. 1926 IN V EN TOR.

HJ/SYWH'J@ BY ca Q QAQQ) ATTORNEY.

Pafenea Apr. 9, 1929.

HENRY J. SMIDLEY,

F cHIoAGo, ILLINOIS.-A

VACUUM CLEANER.

Application tiled' April `15,

This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and partlcularly to vacuum cleaners having j combmed therewlth a brush mechanism or sweeping mechanism for promoting and increasing the eiliciency of the cleaning action. More particularly the invention relates to cleaners in which a rotary vacuum producing fan or its equivalent and a brush mechanism are simultaneously driven from a common drive motor, such, for example, as an electric motor.

One object of my invention isto provide a cleaner in which the sweeper is driven from the' drive motor by friction gearing having a normally positive driving action, but which is so constructed as to permit of a relative slip of the sweeperunder a certain degree of 'resistance to its rotation, as when it engages a stubborn portion of a carpet, such slip allowing the sweeper to pass over s uch portion of the carpet without pulling oif the nap' or otherwise injuring the same.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a construction and arrangement of the parts whereby the motor and fan may be mounted coaxially upon a common shaft eX- tending in a single plane and preferably a suitably incl-ined plane adapting the device as a whole tobe disposed at a convenient angle to the horizontal in order that it may be the more readily and conveniently manipulated by its operating handle and a more compact organization produced, such construction and arrangement of parts further permitting of greater simplicity ofconstruc- (double) drive shafts with universal joints, 'connecting gearing and othercomplex parts'` tobe dispensed with. i Still another .object of the invention is'to provide a construction and organization of parts whereby greater efficiency of coaction between the sweeper mechanism and vacuum producing means may be obtained, and whereby free and unrestricted channels'for n the flow of air and collected dust are formed and the eiliciency of operation thereby further increased.

Still another object of the invention i's to provide a construction which adapts the device t/ohave access to square or angular corners or other normally'inaccessible portions f room, thereb 'enablin all ortions ofr 0 a y g p `15 extending inwardly from the adjacent 5 a room to be cleaned with facility.

lprovide an angular formation of suc-tion l Still another object of the'invention is to 1926. serian No. 102,242.

head Aand arrangement 'of overlapping` brushes whereby corners and other angles may be reached and eifectually cleaned. w

Still another object of the invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction, reduce the number of working parts, dispense with the 'use of parts requiring frequent repairs, and increase the efficiency and ease and facility of assemblage and disassemblage of the various elements of cleaners of the applies. V

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of 'con'- struction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described class to which my invention panying drawings, in 4which:-

"Figure l is a sectional plan view of the cleaner -talrenhsubstantially on the'plane indicated bythe line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 ofv Figure 1. n

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 ofthe drawings, 1 designates generally a casing enclosing the working parts. This casing includes a head portion or shell 2 consisting of side connecting the rear edges of the walls 3 with the side edges of the wall- 5. f

The walls 3 converge in a forward direc- `tion to a point and provide with the` coacttion and enabling the use of sectional ing wallsa head or shell of substantially triangular form, said` head orv shell being open at the base, as indicatedy at 7. Arranged within the head or lshell are shafts 8 and 9 on which are mounted rotary cleaning brushes 10 and l1, respectively, each consisting of a sleeve fixed to its shaft to revblve therewith and carrying rows of brush bristles.` The shafts 8 and'9v are parallel with the sidesv 3 of the head or shell and extend forwardly in converging relationship towfard theapex of the head. The shaft 8 is journaled'in bea-rings 12 and 13 mounted on the wall 3 at one side of the head and the short rear end wall 6 at the opposite sideof the head, while the shaft 9 is mounted in a rear bearing 14 on the other short rear end'l wall 6 and in a bearing bracket wall 3 of the'head.K It will be observed that the formation of the head 'is s uch as to walls 3, a top\ wallet, a rear wall 5 and short end walls 6/ and l claimed, reference being had to the accomwardly so as to lie in advance of the rear edges of the walls 6 and to a certain degree between the rear ends of the brushes, thus contracting the space o'r chamber 16 to a desirable degree and by this arrangement Aseveral present in this also decreasing the overall length of the cleaner as a whole, this feature being one of structure for the production of a compact type of device. The brush 11 is shorter than the brush 10 and terminates a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the brush 10 in rear of the apex of the triangular head, while the forward vend of the brush 10 extends in ad- Vance of the forward end of the brush 11 and into the apexpof the head. -By this arrangement a reduction in width and length is obtained over any construction involving the use and arrangement of converging brushes of equal lengths, as will be readily understood, and at the same time it will be seen that the forward end of the brush 10 overlaps the line of the brush 11 and sweeps in a direction across its path, giving the effect of two long brushes of equal length arranged at oblique angles to each other. By lthe described formation of the head and ar rangement of the brushes a cleaner is provided which will operate close to walls and other vertical surfaces and in corners or re-l cesses of angular formation of a room, allowing all portions of the floor of a room of any shape to be reached and cleaned with equal facility.

The brushes are so arranged that the lower ends of the bristles project through the opening 7 so as to come in contact with a 'floor or carpetedy surface and sweep the samein an efficient manner. The space or chamber 16 in which a partialvacuum is formed and which initially receives thedust and other material collected,communicates through a discharge opening 17 with a fan chamber 18. This opening 17 and chamber 18 are formed respectively as a neck and flanged out portion, respectively, of the Wall 5, and such portions 17 and 18 lie substantially within the recess or alcove formed by l the concaved side of the wall 5 between the opposed end walls. 6, thus further decreasing the length of the device andincreasing The chamber 18 is normally open at yits rear =and is covered by a rear motor chamber 19, the-motor chamber beine' closed at its rear end and having at its forward end a flange 20 detachably secured to the chamber 18 by screws or other s uitable fastenings 21. In the chamber 18 is arranged a rotary fan 22 and inthe chamber 19 is arranged a driving-motor 28 of suitable type, an electric motor being shown in the present instance. The fan 22 is 4driven by the motor 23 and when in action forms a partial vacuum in the hollow head'or shell 2, whereby" the vacuum cleaning effet is obtained,vthe dust and other materials drawn by suction and swept up by the action of the brushes being collectedinthe chamber 16v and dra-wn rearwardly through the mouth 17 and between the blades of the fan 22 and discharging from the fan chamber through a lateral discharge outlet 24. This outlet is suitably constructed todetachably receive a'bag or other collector 25, which may be a bag of usual type and detachably secured to the outlet 24 in any preferred manner.

A drive shaft- 26 extends longitudinally Within the head 2, chamber 18 and chamber 19 and through the mouth or passage 17. This'shaft is journaledat its forward end in a bearing 27 depending from the wall 4 of the head 2, and i's journaled at its rear end in a bearing 28 at the rear of the motor chamber 19. The shaft as a whole may be a onepiece shaft, formed by the armature shaft ofthe motor and a prolongation thereof, orit may consistof two shaft sections, to wit, the armature shaft proper and a fan or brush driving shaft, formed separately but rigidly connected together. At its forward end this shaft carries a conical friction drive wheel 29 engaging friction wheels 3() of similar type mountedv upon the forward portions of the brush sleeves or shafts, whereby the brushes are driven. The friction drive wheel 29 may be made of libre,

rubber or other suitable material and be provided with a concaved conical surface engaging the friction surfaces of the friction wheels 30 which may consist of solid tire-like bands of fibre, rubber or other similar material secured upon the `wheel rims properly fixed to the brush shafts or other sleeves. By this construction the brush shafts Will be positively driven .at a oorresponding and regulated rate of speed, but p the friction surfacesv of the friction wheels permit of an independent slippage of either brush undera predetermined.degree of resistance to the rotation of the brush. Tlms, ifthe bristlesY of either brush encounter a stubborn portion of a carpeted surface opposing a predetermined degree of resistance to its rotation, the brush may have. a sufficient amount of slippage to adapt it to 4pass over such surface without rotation, or

at a slow rotation.` By this means pulling "out of the nap of the carpet or other inable means may, 1n.,l ractice, be provided r for adjustment of the rictionwheels or other surfaces to regulate their frictional binding contact,no means of thisvkind being shown, as any ordinary means for thepurposelmay be employed, and as the same constitutes no part of my present invention. It will be observed that the casing comprising the parts 2, 18 and 19 extends, from the forward-end .of the portion 2, upwardly and rearwardly at an angle of inclination to the horizontal-0r to the floor surface. This angle of inclination is and preferably will be one of convenient character to dispose "the rear of the device at a proper working elevation, without making it objeetionably Ihigh. The angle of-inclination is also such as to enable the operating handle, hereinafter described, to be -applied to the casing 19 at such an elevation that a forward push `or a rearward pull may be exerted along 20 a line coincident with the longitudinal axis o f the cleaner, to enable manipulating power to be applied thereto to the best advantage, whereby the operator may grip the handle bar of ythe operating handle at a convenient `elevation and manipulate the cleaner without a material degree of labor or fatigue. The shaftl 16 extends within the casing at an angle of inclination corr'esponding. thereto, and concentric with the axis of the casing, so that the fan V22 and motor 23 are directly coupled and coaxiallymounted. This construction adapts a unitary shaft"r to be employed for vdriving the brush mechanism, the fanfand the motor, and does away arranged at diderent angles and connected by universal joints, gearing or other parts complicating the construction and which are liable to get out of order and require frequent repairs.' Simplicity of construction is thus secured, with a reduction in the number of working parts, and with a saving inv `initial cost of construction to the" manufacturer as well as costs for maintenance and repairs `to the user. For the purpose of holding the casing and its contained parts at a suitable and permittingfthe implement to n be moved easily back and forth over a floor or other surface, a supporting bracket 31 is disposed at the rear and base of the chamber 18 and 'provided with a caster or roller 32. This bracket is suitablyformed to hold the casing 18 at a desired elevation and may be slot- 55 ted to receive a fastening and adjusting Y screw 33 detachably and ing it to the casing. At the vertex or nose portionof the shell 2 is positioned a contact piece 34 which is 'slotted for the pas- 5'0 .sage ofa securing and adjusting screw 35 detachably and adjustably securing it to the casing. This contact piece may be providf ed with a rounded, or other suitable contact surface, for, engagement with the floor or carpet to hold the front portion of the caswith the use oftwo or more driving shafts elevation,. I

adjustably securangular form in horizontal ly converging brushes disposedin said chamdevice.

An operating handle 36 of any preferred type may be employed.' As shown in the present instance, a handle of ordinary type in common use is disclosed, the same having a forked or yoked end embracing the cham- 'quircdfrom time to time in the use of the ber 19, the arms 36 of said fork being piv-A otally and detachably connected to A said chamber by pivot screws 37. It will'be observed that the construction of the head 2, chambers 18 and 19, and detachable connec- 'tion of the two-last named parts permits of ready assemblage of all parts of the device and their disassemblage for cleaning, repairs and other purposes. As all parts also are of simple construction and durably'connected and mounted the costs of manufacture and maintenance are reduced to the minimum. f

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, the construction, mode of use and advantages of my 1mproved combination lvacuum and sweeper cleaner will vbe readily understo'od'by those versed in the art without a further and extended description. Vhile the constructions shown are preferred, it is to bennderstood that they are illustrated by way of examples, Y

and that changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacri- Iicing any of the advantages of the `invention.

claim 1. In a cleaner, a suction head of substantially triangular form in plan and having its sides converging to an apex point at thev front ofthe head, brushes arranged in V- Having thus fully described my invention,

formation in said head, and conforming in angular arrangement to said sides of the head, one brush being longer than Athe other Y and having its forward end extending in ad- Vance of the -forward end of the other brush and lying'in the angle betweensaid sides at the apex ofthe head, and a shaft entering said head between and in driving 'connection with the brushes. y l i 2. In a cleaner, a suction head of substantially triangular form in plan and provided with a vacuum chamber of substantially trisection, forwardber, the rear wall of said chamber having a passage, a fan chamber communicating with saidy passage and provided withl an out-let, a motor chamber at the rear of the fan chamber, said suction head and chambers being arranged at an upward and rearward yangle of inclination to the horizontal and inaxial alinement, a fan in the fan chamber, a motor in the motor chamber, and a shaft driven by the motor and connected to the fan and extending through said passage into the suction head and in driving connection with the. brushes. A

In a cleaner, a suction head, a pair of angular-ly related forwardly converging brushes disposed therein, one brush having itsI forward end terminating in rear of the forward end ofthe other brush, a gear elcment on the forward end of the first-named brush, a gear element on the second-named brush in rear of its end portion extending in advance of the Iirst-named brush, a drive shaft in the angle between the brushes, and a. gear element on said shaft engaging said gear elements on the brushes.

. et. In a cleaner, a suction head having its side walls converging to an apex point at the front and having at its rear end wall portions relatively converging inwardly and rearwardly and arranged at right angles to said side walls, angular-ly related brushes in said head extending parallelwith said side walls and 'forwardly in converging rela-v tionship, said brushes being journaled at their rear ends respectively in said end wall portions I,connected with the adjacent sides of the head, one of said brushes being shorter than the other and having its forward end journaled uponthe head and terminating in rear of the uapex of the hea-d, the other and longer brush having its forward end extending across the head at the apex' of the head in advance of the forward end of the shorter brush and journaled in the side wall of the head with whichsaid shorter brush lies in parallel relation. y

-5. In a cleaner, a suction head of substantially triangular /form in plan and having its sides converging to an apex point at the front of the head, brushes arranged in V- formation and each substantially parallel with one side of the head, one brush having its forward end terminating in the rear of the forward end of the other brush and lying in the angle between said sides at the apex of the head, gear elements on the forward ends of the brushes lying opposite Aeach other, a drive shaft in the angle between the brushes, anda gear. ele-ment on said shaft engaging said gear elements on the brusaes.

6. In a cleaner, a suction head of substantially triangular form in plan and comprising side walls converging at their forward ends to an apex point, short end walls at the rear ends of said side walls and disposed at right angles thereto, and a concave-convex rear wall connecting said end walls and projeeting forwardly a distance between the rear ends of the side walls, brushes in the head arranged in parallel relation to the side walls and journaled atl their rear ends vin the end walls and at their forward ends upon one of the side walls, one brush being longer than the other andhaving its forward end extending in advance of the lforward end of the other and lying in the angle between'the side walls at the apex of the head, gear elements upon the forward ends of the brushes lying opposite each other, a drive shaft arranged in the angle between the brushes, and a gear element on said shaft engaging the gear elements on the lbrushes.

l7. In a cleaner, a suction head open at its base, of substantially triangular configuration in plan, comprising side walls converging at-their forward ends to form the apex of the head and a concave rear wallv extending across between the rear ends of the side walls and projecting a distance forwardly therebetween, a passage through said concave wall, `a fan housing carried by said rear wall, and in communication with the interior 'of the head through said passage, said housing lying substantially within the area between the said side walls, a fan withinsaid 'afan housinga motor mounted vrearwardly of ysaid fan housing and connected with the fan to rotate the same, revolubly mounted brushes in said head, means connecting said motor with the brushes to rotate the same, and adust discharge outlet for said fan housing. v

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature.

HENRY J. SMIDLEY. 

